ABSTRACT
Dunlop is strongly committed to empirical research as an essential resource for understanding chaplaincy and this paper contributes to the growing evidence base that underpins this form of ministry. It is firmly grounded in qualitative data right from the outset: the introduction begins with a very evocative vignette from one of the interviews that were central to the study. Dunlop’s investigation is a valuable example of a case study approach that looks at chaplains in different sectors, one of the few studies to take such a cross-sector approach. In this discussion, what is particularly notable, though, is that alongside the richness of the qualitative data presented, is the richness of the theological discussion of the chaplains’ missiological reflections—not only is there significant reflection on themes in the theology of mission, but this is grounded in sustained attention to incarnational theology and its implications.
